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| Week 1, What do I have to know? |
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| Week 2, What is expected of me? |
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| Week 3, What is research? Selecting a topic and entering a research field |
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Tutorial 3: What is Research? Selecting a topic and entering a research field General Orientation: What is research? What does it mean to be a research student? We explore how to develop familiarity with a research field; taking a position within a field; research concepts; and some methods for successful research at university. |
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| Week 4, Understanding research practices – Note-taking and referencing |
Making the Grade Chapter 11 Owning up – acknowledging sources, pp. 166-196 | Tutorial 4: Understanding research practices: Note taking and referencing – how do I keep track of what I find? This tutorial looks at methods of note-taking and referencing. It examines how to assess and evaluate material for suitability with regard to the planned project. We look at referencing requirements and provide a rationale for correct referencing. In particular we will look at developing a Reference List. This tutorial will also look at plagiarism. This tutorial will correlate strongly with the questions asked in the third and fourth Quizzes. |
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| Week 5, How do I know what is useful? Finding quality research sources and material |
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Tutorial 5: How do I know what is useful? Finding quality research sources and material You will be given the opportunity to expand on your initial visit to libraries and databases in Week 3. We will be looking at how to discriminate between appropriate and inappropriate material, and ways to assess databases, journals and books for their suitability as research sources. We look at distinguishing between primary sources and secondary scholarly material and the different functions they have in the research process. You are required to find two further articles on your topic, by searching online databases and university library catalogues, and downloading and reading them, taking notes. These two articles will be added to the other two already provided from the Topic List provided on the unit website. These four articles will then form part of your research for the Research Report, which will consist only of secondary research. Assessment: four multiple-choice online quizzes, total value of 30%, will allow you to see the progress you are making. The quizzes will be available for several weeks after the start date, but should be completed by Week 8 of the Study Period. |
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| Week 6, What is critical analysis? |
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Tutorial 6: What is critical analysis? Students are introduced to critical analysis as an approach to the reading of scholarly material. In this week, we will explore a method for undertaking and presenting an analysis. What are the general principles of critical analysis? What do I need to look for in the materials I am reading? How can I know what is useful or not? How do I demonstrate critical thinking? This week you will prepare your first draft of your Critical Analysis. |
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| Week 7, Case Study 1: discussion article |
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Tutorial 7: Case Study 1: discussion article As an exercise, we will work through an example discussion article, providing step-by-step analysis and reflection, and identifying key issues related to critical analysis. Issues to be discussed are: the main argument, secondary arguments, methodology, marshalling of evidence, conclusion, assessing strengths and weaknesses. This week you will refine, re-draft and develop your draft of your Critical Analysis. |
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| Week 8, Case Study 2: research article |
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Tutorial 8: Case Study 2: research article As an exercise, the Study Guide will work through an example contemporary research article, providing step-by-step analysis and reflection, and identifying key issues related to critical analysis. Issues to be discussed are: recognising the way in which a particular article contributes to a field of study, recognising the main argument, identifying secondary arguments, methodology, marshalling of evidence, conclusion, assessing strengths and weaknesses. This week, you will continue to fine-tune your Critical Analysis in preparation for submission. Assessment: Critical Analysis of selected article (due Week 9, 1500 words, 30%) |
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This tutorial sets out the basics of developing research practices and writing a research report. You will learn how to go about doing secondary research. The research report will follow a standard format, including an executive summary, literature review, and sections on research methodology, findings, discussion, and conclusions.
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Here we explore how to write the Research Report. We go through the headings and discuss what is required under each one. It is important to be able to apply the skills you have learned in critical analysis of secondary sources and show how a research item relates to the research project as a whole.
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In this week we explore more deeply some of the aspects of the research process, such as how to organise the material you have found. We look at summarising and synthesizing material in the literature review. In this tutorial, you will be shown how to develop conclusions from the material you have researched and set these out in the Research Report. This will act as recommendations for further research, which will be the section called Conclusions in the Research Report.
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This tutorial examines a range of issues that will help students in adopting a professional approach to research. These include: the responsibilities of the researcher with respect to authorship, including correct attribution of other writers’ work, awareness of plagiarism; the difference between disciplines in their use of research (e.g. social science versus humanities); and differences between referencing styles and requirements. Week Twelve serves as a reminder of how far you have come, what you have learnt and shows that research and analysis are most useful skills to have.
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| Week 13, | Title of Readings | TThis assignment is the culmination of the entire unit. It requires knowledge of how to research, how to critically analyse texts, how to present clearly the material you have gathered, and the use of careful references to show where the material has come from. A report is generally a presentation of research in a stylised format. In this instance you will undertake independent research on one of the topics provided in the Course Materials folder on the Learning@Griffith unit website. The format and style are detailed in Weeks 9-12 of the Study Guide/Workbook. The content will be yours to create based on your chosen approach to the research question (see below). A minimum of eight appropriate references is required to achieve above a Pass level in this assignment. Of these eight sources, only one can be an internet source that is not a government or other authoritative source. You may use as many of the articles from the Course Materials folder for your topic as you wish – but these do NOT count towards your minimum of eight sources of academic research required. The report should include an overview of the field or topic and must show evidence of independent research, chiefly, academic journal articles located via the databases and the university Library catalogue. It should be 2000 words in length. It should be organised by, and clearly show, all the prescribed headings provided in the Study Guide/ Workbook. Ensure you consult the Criteria Sheet (below) and are clear on what criteria the assignment will be marked against. It is helpful if you can copy and paste this Criteria Sheet into your assignment, but not essential, as your marker can do this for you.
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Home » Developing Research and Analytical Skills
Bachelor of Psychology 